South Africa’s 17th Test Captain Keshav Maharaj led a young Proteas team to a comfortable 328 run win in four days against hosts Zimbabwe in the 1st test in Bulawayo on Tuesday, 01 July.
Debutants shine in first test
Speaking at the post match press conference, Captain Maharaj emphasised the need to make the youngsters welcome when they come into the team environment.
For us as a team obviously a lot of the regulars aren’t here but when the youngsters come in it’s about making them feel very welcome and feel comfortable to be themselves. That’s something we always encourage in the environment and naturally the mentality of where we want to go with our cricket and the style of cricket and brand of cricket we want to play just filters through them so I think that’s the main thing is to make them feel comfortable, to allow them to be the best version of themselves.
The starting XI for the 1st test included three debutants, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis and Codi Yusuf. Pretorius made 153 and four while Brevis made 51 and 3 with Yusuf chipping in with three for 42 and three for 22.
Bosch stars in only his 2nd test match
All-rounder Corbin Bosch starred in only his second test match for the Proteas. He made 100 not out in the 1st innings, his only hundred at any level and then backed that up with figures of five for 43 in Zimbabwe’s 2 nd innings.
Ja, we know Corbin. He’s just come into our environment. He’s settling in very well but the skill he possesses is not many can bowl 140 km and bats the way he bats so ja, I’m so happy he works really hard on his game, he trusts his skill, he backs himself and you know it’s so nice to see everything come together for him. We had a long chat after the 1st innings and you know to see him bounce back and see him do something very special like that is encouraging for us.
Maharaj out of the 2nd test
Captain Maharaj has been ruled out of the second Test due to a left groin strain. The captain for the series sustained the injury while batting on day three of the first Test on Monday. He will return home for further assessment to determine the extent of the injury. Senuran Muthusamy has been named as his replacement, while all-rounder Wiaan Mulder will lead the side in the second Test, which begins on Sunday, 06 July.
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who was set to join the squad on Wednesday, 02 July has been released to give the seamers who impressed in the first Test another opportunity to build on their performances.
South Africa Test Squad against Zimbabwe
Wiaan Mulder (Captain -DP World Lions), David Bedingham (World Sports Betting Western Province), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Dafabet Warriors),Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lesego Senokwane (Momentum Multiply Titans), Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kyle Verreynne (World Sports Betting Western Province) and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).
Fixtures
- 28 June – 02 July -Zimbabwe vs South Africa – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
- 06 - 10 July - Zimbabwe vs South Africa – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
